These attacks can be triggered by someone scanning networks or opening infected e-mails containing malicious attachments or links. Hacking collectives are effective at leveraging open source, publicly available information identifying officers, their employers, and their families. With this in mind, officers and public officials should be aware of their online presence and exposure. For example, posting images wearing uniforms displaying name tags or listing their police department on social media sites can increase an officer's risk of being targeted or attacked.

Many legitimate online posts are linked directly to personal social media accounts. Law enforcement personnel and public officials need to maintain an enhanced awareness of the content they post and how it may reflect on themselves, their family, their employer or how it could be used against them in court or during online attacks.

Find tips to defend personal information and minimize the risk of becoming a victim of a cyber attack if targeted by hacktivists on the following websites: Hacktivists Threaten to Target Law Enforcement Personnel and Public Officials and Staying Safe on Social Network Sites.